NSA launches hotline for sheep worrying
The National Sheep Association (NSA) has launched a new hotline to record incidents where sheep are worried by dogs. The service will be open to all UK sheep producers whether they are affiliated with the NSA or not, and incidents can be categorised by geographical area and the seriousness of the case.
It is hoped that the hotline can help provide information on sheep worrying across the UK, which can then be used to campaign for improvements in responsible dog behaviour and increasing awareness of the issue. It is also hoped that the initiative will be able to raise awareness of the risks of tapeworm infection, which is a serious problem owing to the prevalence of ineffective worming of dogs.
Commenting on the announcement, Chief Executive of the NSA Phil Stocker said “We hope this new service will provide valuable information to benefit sheep producers. Sheep worrying and dog attacks appear to be on the increase and we are aware that many cases go unreported. It is important to create a picture of what is really happening and use this to raise awareness among dog owners and authorities.”
“I would urge any farmer to phone the NSA on 01684 892661 in full confidence and report any cases of sheep worrying they experience.” he added.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
